| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080201765 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device is disclosed. An system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system having a controller element that receives from a communication device over a packet-switched network a terminal ID and a request to authenticate said communication device, generates a first registration ID, stores the first registration ID and a first communication identifier, transmits the first registration ID to the communication device, receives from an interactive response system a second communication identifier and a second registration ID that the interactive response system received during a communication session with the communication device over a circuit-switched network, and authenticates the communication device in response to detecting a match between the first and second communication identifiers and the first and second registration IDs. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080235743 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MULTIMEDIA SIGNALS - A method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device. The adjunct device can have a controller element that receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB, monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal, and presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080235768 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATION OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A system and method for authentication of a communication device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system can have a controller element that receives from a communication device by way of a packet-switched network an authentication request comprising a first identification (ID) of a gateway and a second ID of the communication device. The gateway and at least one network element of the packet-switched network can be provisioned to have a physical association with each other such that other network elements of the packet-switched network deny services to the gateway when the gateway attempts to operate outside of said physical association. From said physical association and the aforementioned IDs the controller element can authenticate the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080259810 | Broadband Service Applications Test Tool - A broadband internet system comprises a speed test tool, a database, and an internet portal. The speed test tool determines available bandwidth for a communication link. The database stores the available bandwidth for the communication link from the speed test tool. The internet portal offers a service to the customer based on the available bandwidth of the communication link stored in the database, therefore allowing the customer the most efficient usage of the bandwidth of the communication link. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080274688 | Method and system for mobile vehicle content management - A method and system for mobile vehicle content management. Content may be received wireless from a plurality of access technologies within a mobile vehicle. The content may be balanced from the plurality of access technologies to select the content from at least one access technology for decryption. The selected content may be provided to a receiver device for presentation. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080281926 | STB messaging system - There are provided a method, a system and a machine-readable medium for video terminal device messaging. In one embodiment, a method includes querying a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the querying. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080288996 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVISIONING MEDIA CONTENT IN A MULTI-USER ENVIRONMENT - A method and apparatus for provisioning media content in a multi-user environment is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Set-Top Box having a controller element to: receive multimedia content from a communication system; configure individual access to the multimedia content among a group of users in accordance with individual user profiles, wherein each of the individual user profiles has a separate service package provided by one or more broadband providers; and provision a delivery of the multimedia content to a media device in accordance with access settings defined at least in part in the individual user profiles. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080305764 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A SCOPE OF COMMUNICATIONS OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A system for managing a scope of communications of a communication device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, communication device having a controller element to receive one or more entries in a contact book of a second communication device, and limit a scope of communications with other communication devices according to the one or more contact book entries received. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090094646 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTENT MAPPING - Methods and systems for content mapping are described. Information regarding available content may be received from a plurality of content sources. A plurality of available content selections may be provided for presentation. The plurality of available content selections may be in accordance with the received information. A selection of content may be received from a user. The selection may be from the plurality of available content selections. The content may be associated with a selected content source from the plurality of content sources. The selected content source may be of a source type. A channel may be mapped to the content in accordance with the source type to create a mapped channel. The mapped channel may be added to an electronic program guide. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090138459 | System and Method of Searching for Video Content - A method of searching video content includes searching the video content according to criteria defined by a user, and sending a notice to an electronic calendar with at least one entry that meets the criteria. A graphical user interface performing the method is also disclosed. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20100048057 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING DIGITAL PACKET-BASED DATA - In accordance with a disclosed example method, a first coaxial port is connected to a connector casing. The first coaxial port is connectable to a first section of coaxial cable and the first port to receive digital packet-based data from a first device. A second coaxial port is connected to the connector casing. The second coaxial port is connectable to a second section of coaxial cable. A first impedance is electrically connected to the first coaxial port. The first impedance located in the connector casing. A second impedance is electrically connected to the second coaxial port. The second impedance is located in the connector casing and is different from the first impedance to create an impedance imbalance between the second port and the second section of the coaxial cable. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100103943 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE POWER OVER AN ETHERNET-BASED NETWORK TO A WIDE AREA NETWORK ACCESS DEVICE - Methods and apparatus to provide power over an Ethernet-based network to a wide area network access device are described. In some example systems, a local area network (LAN) access point is configured to provide power to a gateway device, such as an optical network termination (ONT), via a wired Ethernet connection. The example LAN access points provide power via a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet port, through which the LAN access points receive WAN access from a gateway. The example gateway provides WAN access to a LAN access point, and receives power sufficient to operate the gateway via an Ethernet port. The example gateway also includes a WAN port, such as a fiber connection, through which the gateway connects to a service provider. The example systems allow a gateway to be powered without a traditional dedicated power connection. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100144350 | METHODS, DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR REGISTRATION OF MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES - A method of registering a multi mode communications device for service can include registering a multi-mode communications device by receiving and transmitting registration information over separate communications networks. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100158525 | MODULAR NETWORK TERMINALS AND METHODS TO USE THE SAME - Example modular optical network terminals (ONTs) and methods to implement the same are disclosed. A disclosed example ONT includes a base unit having an integral optical interface to optically couple the ONT to an optical network, and to convert an optical signal received from the optical network to form an electrical signal, a plug-in service module to distribute the electrical signal within a customer premises, and a modular interface connector configured to receive the plug-in service module and to couple the electrical signal from the base unit to the plug-in service module. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100177896 | COMMUNICATING VIA A WIRELESS GATEWAY DEVICE AND SSL - Systems (and corresponding methodologies) of deploying an enhanced access point (or an integrated router/access point) with embedded secure socket layer (SSL) tunneling capabilities are provided. The innovation enables users to initiate or prompt secure SSL tunnels between a wireless computer or device (and browser session) and the wireless gateway device (WGD). In particular, off-the-shelf web browser applications can be used to effect secure communication between a wireless mobile device and a SWAT-(Secure Wireless Application Tunnel-) equipped access point. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100180308 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to search a portal in response to a user query for a plurality of related content items of disparate formats accessible across a plurality of platforms, present search results and a graphical user interface for the consumption of the plurality of related content items of disparate formats from the single portal in response to the searching, and select a set of the plurality of related content items of disparate formats from the single portal for provisioning on a first device with a first disparate format and at least a second device with a second disparate format. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100217661 | System and Method for Advertising to a Wi-Fi Device - A method is disclosed for providing information related to goods available for purchase in a building. The method includes establishing a plurality of boundary zones where each of the plurality of boundary zones corresponding to a physical boundary zone within a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. The method also includes storing product information related to the goods available for purchase that are located within at least one boundary zone of the plurality of boundary zones. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100287586 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A method includes receiving, at a first server, data from a set-top box device including login information for a user to establish a first session with a multimedia distribution system. The method includes determining at the first server that the user belongs to at least one presence group when the login information is verified. The method includes identifying one or more on-line members that are members of the at least one presence group and have established sessions with the multimedia distribution system. The method also includes sending information from the first server to the set-top box device, the information corresponding to session activity of each of the one or more on-line members. The information includes video content selected by a user of a particular set-top box corresponding to one of the one or more on-line members, where the video content is concurrently sent to the particular set-top box device. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110039531 | Method for Announcing a Calling Party From a Communication Device - A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system can have a controller for processing calls in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to detect an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit to a communication device over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110070879 | STB MESSAGING SYSTEM - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a video terminal device having a processor adapted to submit a query to a mobile device to determine whether to redirect one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device to the video terminal device, receive from the mobile device an affirmative response to the query, transmit a request to a wireless carrier system to redirect transmission of the one or more mobile messages to the video terminal device, receive from the wireless carrier system the one or more mobile messages while the mobile device remains communicatively coupled to the video terminal device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110103298 | Systems and Methods for Wireless Transmission of Packet-Based Data to One or More Residential Gateways - Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving packet-based data at residential gateway from a service provider unit. In one embodiment, a location of a residential gateway is determined and at least a portion of the packet-based data is transmitted wirelessly to the residential gateway when the residential gateway is at an approved location. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110107372 | Near-Real Time Internet Protocol Television - A set top box includes a processor configured to provide an electronic programming guide to available television programming. The available television programming includes previously-aired content, currently-airing content, and to-be-aired content. The processor is further configured to receive a selection indicating selected content, and determine if the selected content is previously aired content, currently airing content, or to-be-aired content. The processor is still further configured to request the selected content from a distribution server when the selected content is previously aired content, and provide playback of the selected content. | 05-05-2011 |